Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon expressed relief and conflicted emotions as NASCAR revealed it will restore its popular ‘Chase’ format to determine champions beginning with the upcoming season. This pivot, announced after repeated criticism of the Playoff format introduced in 2014, will impact all three national series, aiming to re-energize the title fight and respond to drivers’ and fans’ calls for change. The topic “Jeff Gordon on NASCAR Chase” picked up momentum after Gordon commented candidly about how the format affected his own career.
Format Reversal: The Chase Returns After a Decade
NASCAR’s decision follows increasing discontent with the tournament-style Playoff format that had replaced ‘The Chase’ a decade ago. Under the restored rules, champions will once again be crowned through a 10-race showdown at the season’s end, reminiscent of the 2004-2013 era. Now, the regular season’s first 26 races will determine the top 16 competitors eligible for ‘The Chase,’ assigning starting points based on regular-season performance and positioning each driver for a final dash to secure the championship.
The leader will start the Chase portion with 2,100 points, the runner-up will have 2,075, with the points dropping by increments of five for each subsequent position. This aims to maintain suspense toward the Homestead-Miami Speedway finale and keep multiple contenders in the hunt, reducing the likelihood of a champion clinching the title prematurely.
Gordon’s Personal History with the Chase Format
Jeff Gordon, a key figure at Hendrick Motorsports and now a team executive, spoke out following NASCAR’s announcement. According to NASCAR managing director of communications Mike Forde on the ‘Hauler Talk’ podcast, Gordon told officials,
“I really like where you guys landed. And I’m saying this as someone who was screwed by ‘The Chase’ multiple times.”
– Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports Vice President
Gordon reaffirmed his reaction in a later interview with RACER magazine:
“I did say it, and it’s true. Not only did I say it, but it’s true that I got my (butt) kicked by that format.”
– Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports Vice President
During his career from 1993 to 2015, Gordon experienced all three formats—winning four titles under the original full-season format, narrowly missing out on further championships during the Chase era (notably finishing second to seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson in 2007), and making playoff appearances after the format shift, where he placed sixth and seventh before retiring.
Emotional Toll and Adapting to New Rules
Reflecting on the moment the Chase was first introduced, Gordon remembered the challenge of adapting after winning his fourth championship just prior to the change:
“I remember when it was announced, and of course, I’m coming off of winning a fourth championship just a couple of years before that and loving the format being 36 races,”
– Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports Vice President
The abrupt shift to the Chase format brought uncertainty for Gordon, who was unsure if his strengths would align with the crucial 10-race title stretch but still acknowledged the benefits for the sport:
“But I still loved what it did for the excitement of the sport.”
– Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports Vice President
Looking toward the future, Gordon shared his belief that reverting to ‘The Chase’ offers a necessary compromise between suspense and fairness. While recognizing the intensity and drama delivered by a knockout-style finale, he questioned whether that was the ideal way to declare a NASCAR champion:
“I think in motorsports, we’re different than other sports, and I think having a 10-race shootout is the way to do it.”
– Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports Vice President
What the Change Means for NASCAR’s Next Chapter
This major policy shift arrives as NASCAR seeks to reconnect with fans nostalgic for the Chase era and drivers frustrated by the prior system. The move will also shape the careers of top competitors like Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr, who voiced their own perspectives amid the transformation. Drivers will be forced to balance steady performance across the regular season with strategic excellence in the final 10-race shootout.
Gordon’s frank remarks illustrate the personal stakes for elite drivers, as well as the broader challenge facing NASCAR as it refines its championship structure. The return of ‘The Chase’ will be closely watched by drivers, teams, and fans when the opening flag drops, potentially rewriting the arc of future championships at Homestead-Miami Speedway and solidifying NASCAR’s search for a definitive path to crown its champions.
